Pessary



July 5,1938. 7 WMHNDLEY 2,123,148

PESSARY Filed Dec. 27, 1935 INVENTOR, J51;

ATTORNEY.

Patented July 5, 19 38 i g 48 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE) I rasssar William M. Findley, New York, N. Y., a'sslgnor to Daue Surgical Appliance Com, Roselle, N. J.,' a corporation of New Jersey Application December 27, 1935, Serial No. 56,317 Claims. (01. ice-127i The. object of my invention is to provide in a forms may be found to be more suitabl The single, simple structure an eflicient form of pesframe is formed of two rigid side members, I and sary device, for use by gynecologists and obste- 2, respectively, and are joined at their opposite triclans in the vagina to prevent or correct a ends by two short sections of a yielding mate- 5 downward or backward displacement of the rial, such as soft rubber, as shown at 3 and 4, re- 5 uterus and support against retroversion of the spectively. These several sections are vulcanized walls of the vagina. together at the abutting ends thereof and are The principal object of my invention is to avoid finished with a smooth, continuous outer surface. the necessity of using separate devices and in- The side members and 2 of the frame may be serters for accomplishing the desired results and made of hard rubber, in order to provide the nec- 10 also avoid the difliculties of inserting the same in essary rigidity, and the short sections 3 and 4 correct anatomical position behind the cervix. may be of soft rubber, to provide the hinged con- Because of the novel features of construction of nection between the ends of the side members? my invention, the device may be readily inserted The diaphragm or cup-shaped portion of the deor removed by the patient, for cleansing, etc., as vice, shown at 5 in the drawings, may be of soft 15 often as desired, its insertion and placement is as sheet rubber and vulcanized around its upper easy and simple as the introduction of a douche edge to the frame, or otherwisev secured thereto.

nozzle and it acts as its own introducer and guide To inse t the d ce n t e Vaginal a e in entering the vaginal canal and automatically operator folds the two side members together, takes the proper position after insertion. holding the same in folded position between the 20 In carrying out the objects of my invention, I thumb andi'orefinger of one hand, and inserts one provide a circular or other suitable form of frame of e folded e ds e of. S i g the same alone of hard rubber or other suitable material. This the ow floor of the Vaginal Canal until it finds frame is in two parts which are of rigid conitspositlon, si l s t mF -1.1 11 di phra m struction and are joined by two short sections of 5 b n folded collapsed While the Side 25 soft rubber or other suitable yielding-material hers I and 2 are held. which form hinge joints between the two rigid The edge portion of said diaphragm 5 is held side sections of the frame and permit these side tightly between the frame members, I and 2, when sections to be folded together. A soft rubber folded together, as shown in Fig. 1, and form an 30. diaphragm is vulcanized or otherwise secured to enclosure or closed envelope in which a medithe frame and is of such size as to permit it to cated or anti-septic jelly is held and is prevented depend from one side thereof in a cup-shape or from being brushed off as the pessary is inserted dome shape, as will be shown and explained more and when unfolded or opened upon being released fully hereinafter in connection with the descripthe whole-amount of the jelly is brought into contion of the device shown in the accompanying tact with the cervix and vaginal vault, which is drawings as illustrative of one form or embodian imporant feature in the treatments and use of ment of my invention in a simple device which has the device in order to insure an effective and been found to be very effective for the purposes eflicient result therefrom.

stated. On releasing the grip of the thumb and fore- In the drawing, like parts in the several views finger, the device unfolds and takes the proper 40 I have been given the same reference numeral. position automatically behind the cervix, thus Fig. 1 is a general view showing the correct eliminating painful manipulation after insertion method of inserting the device in the vagina, the which otherwise becomes necessary. The hinged side sections of the frame are shown as folded toarrangement of the two rigid side members of the gether for insertion. frame and the collapsible construction of the dia- 45 Fig. 2 is a sectional view, substantially in full phragm carried thereby, thus provide a construcsize, showing the device in its opened or normal tion which is not only easily and painlessly posiposition. The outline shown in dot-anddash tioned but also provides an effective support, as lines illustrates the position of the parts when will be understood by the medical profession and .50 partly folded together. practitioners in this specialty.

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken on the line The sudden reduction of the uterine contents 3-3 of Fig. 2, showing the device in its open or at confinement with the accompanying excessive normal position. mobility due to the laxity of supporting struc- The frame or supporting portion of the device tures, predisposes the uterus to retrodisplacement is shown in circular form but in some cases other during the postpartum involutionary period. The 55 dorsal posture during convaiescence and the tendency to overdistension of the bladder, commonly occurring in the bedridden, are further contributing factors. It is generally accepted that retrodisplacement of the uterus during involution may have many deleterious effects.

My combined pessary device herein described has been the result of many years of experience in treatment of these cases and the features of construction embodied in the device have been found to provide a device which not only overcome: many difficulties heretofore encountered with devices on the market but provides a device which while extremely simple in construction has been found very efficient in treatments to avoid the deleterious effects in cases under treatment.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. In a device of the class described, rigid side frame members joined by resilient portions normally holding said side members in extended position to provide a rigid support in a longitudinal direction while permitting the said side members to be manipulated and folded together, and a diaphragm secured to said frame and collapsibly depending therefrom to form a cup-shaped portion, the edge portion of said diaphragm being held tightly between said rigid side members when folded together and forms a closed envelope.

2. In a device of the class described, rigid side frame members joined by a resilient hinge portion at both ends thereof, forming a continuous supporting frame which is rigid in' a longitudinal direction but which may be folded together, and a diaphragm secured to said frame depending to one side thereof and forming a cup-shaped collapsible portion, the edge portion of said diaphragm being held tightly between said rigid side members when folded together and forms a closed envelope.

3. In a device of the class described, rigid side frame members of hard rubber Joined by short portions of soft rubber forming a continuous supporting frame having a smooth outer surface and which may be folded together, and a diaphragm of soft sheet rubber secured to said frame depending to one side thereof and forming a cupshaped collapsible portion, the edge portion of said diaphragm being held tightly between said rigid side members when folded together and forms a closed envelope.

4. A pessary device comprising a unitary structure provided with rigid side frame members hinged together and a collapsible diaphragm attached thereto and forming 9. depending cupshaped portion of flexible material, the edge portion of said diaphragm being held tightly between said rigid side members when folded together and forms a closed envelope.

5. A device of the class describedcomprising a unitary structure constructed entirely of rubber and having rigid side frame members of hard rubber joined by short portions of soft rubber and a soft rubber diaphragm joined to and depending from said frame and forming a cup-shaped portion when said frame is in its extended position, the edge portion of said diaphragm being held tightly between said rigid side frame members when folded together to form a closed envelope.

WILLIAM M. FINDLEY. 

